Skunk (臭鼬)

Written by(作者): Tyler(泰勒)

Translate by(譯者): Bird(進宗)

Skunks who are also called polecats are from the weasel family, Skunks are known for their stink spray they eject from glandsat the base of their tail. They can spray as far as 12 feet. Before they spray a skunk will give warning by stamping it's front feet and hiss or growl

臭鼬屬於鼬鼠家族。臭鼬是因為牠的臭而被認識的，這種臭氣是由位於尾部的臭腺所噴出，噴的距離可以有12英尺遠。當牠要放出臭氣前，牠會踱著前腳並且發出聲音或咆哮著！

Skunks have black and white stripes or spotted fur. There are three different types of skunks. The hag nosed skunk which lives in South America and in the Southwestern. United States. The spotted skunks which lives in the United States and as far as Central America. The striped skunk which lives in Canada, and the Eastern United States. The skunks that are from around here are called the striped skunk. The skunks around here ranges from 11+0 15 inches in length with a 17 inch tail and weighs from 1"2+5"2 pounds. The striped Skunk is the most common in the United States.

臭鼬有著黑白的條紋或是斑點，可以分成三個種類。醜鼻鼬鼠分佈在南美洲的西南方，斑點臭鼬分佈在美國中部地區，條紋臭鼬分佈在加拿大以及美國東部地區。而我們這附近的臭鼬，都是屬於條紋臭鼬，牠的身長有11-15英吋，尾巴有十七英吋，體重約為1.2-5.2磅重。臭鼬在美國是多而普遍的。

Skunks are nocturnal animals which means they do most of their running around at night and sleeps during the day.

Skunks will eat both plants and animals. They like to eat insects such as caterpillars, beetles , crickets, and grasshoppers. They also eat mice, rats, and other small rodents.Sometimes they eat eggs, and fruit such as apples, acorns, and walnuts.

臭鼬是夜行性動物，意思是說他大部份在晚間活動，在白天的時候睡覺。臭鼬動.植物兩種都吃，牠們喜歡吃一些昆蟲，如：毛蟲.甲蟲.蟋蟀以及蚱猛等，牠們也吃老鼠還有小型的齧齒動物。有的時候，牠們還會吃蛋還有一些水果，如：蘋果.橡實.胡桃。

Most skunks live in under ground dens that they dig out with their powerful front claws. Then they line the den with lots of dried leaves and grass. Some Skunks like the spotted skunk can clinb and live in hollow trees.Female skunks will give birth to four or five at a time which will live in the den until they are big enough to be an their own.

大部份的臭鼬居住在地面下的小洞穴中，牠們用強而有力的前爪挖掘洞穴，然後將乾燥的草藏到洞穴中，有部份的臭鼬跟斑點臭鼬一樣能夠爬樹並生活在樹洞中。雌性臭鼬一次大約可以生四到五隻的小臭鼬，小臭鼬將一直生活在洞穴中，直到牠們有足夠的獨立能力為止。

Because skunks mostly come out at night they have few enemines, But bobcats and owls have been known to attack them.

Skunks have always tried to stay away from humans, But whenever they come into contact with one a skunk will always run away if they can. So if you see a skunk hissing, growling and stomping its front feet you better run.

因為臭鼬大多數在晚上出現，牠們只有很少數的敵人，不過山貓還有貓頭鷹會攻擊牠們，臭鼬總是企圖遠離人類，無論何時當牠們遇見人類時，牠們會盡可能的離開，所以如果當你看到一隻臭鼬對著你發出嘶嘶的咆哮聲還有踱著牠的前腳，你最好趕快跑開。